Unit 6.

Evolution
6.1. Theories of origin of life

6.2. Theories of mechanisms of evolution

6.3. Speciation through natural selection

6.4. Modern theories of evolution

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  Evolution means change, change in the form and behavior of

organisms between generations.

Theories of origin of life

A. Special creationism Theory - attributes the origin of life

to a divine event that was masterminded by the
supernatural being, God

B. Spontaneous Generation / Abiogenesis Theory

 Suggests that life can evolve ‘spontaneously’ from non-living
objects i.e. without the intervention of living things.
.
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C. The eternity of life theory
This theory regards life as eternal as matter itself.
 It asserts that life only change its form but is never created
and no end of life.
D.The cosmozoan theory = Panspermia theory
It asserts that life has an extra –terrestrial origin.
According to this theory, life has reached this planet Earth from
other cosmological structures, such as meteorites
E.The biochemical theory
This theory states that the first form of life evolved from a set of
chemicals
simple organic compounds could have undergone a series of
reactions leading complex molecules that have formed
aggregates, or ‘coacervates’
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 Theories of evolution
 Lamarck and Acquired Characteristics

 Lamarck, In 1809 he published a paper entitled ‘PhilosophieZoologique’,

in which he described a two-part mechanism by which change was

gradually introduced into the species and passed down through
generations.
 His theory is called the ‘theory of transformation’ or, more usually,

simply ‘Lamarckism’.
 The two parts of his theory are: Use and disuse, and Inheritance of

acquired traits.
 Lamarck suggests that by continually used structure or process, become

4enlarged or more developed and that is not used or is little used will
All the changes in an individual during its lifetime are

transmitted to its offspring by reproductive process

Charles Darwin and Natural Selection

A large number of people agree that Darwin was the greatest

naturalist and philosopher of the 19th century

Darwin summarized his observations in two main ideas:

all species tend to produce more offspring than can possibly

survive
there is variation among the offspring

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From these observations he deduced that:

There will be a ‘struggle for existence’ between members of

a species (because they over reproduce, and resources are

limited)
Some members of a species will be better adapted than others

to their environment (because there is variation in the

offspring).
Combining these two deductions, Darwin proposed:

Those members of a species which are best adapted to their

environment will survive and reproduce in greater numbers

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than others less well adapted.
 Evidence of Evolution

Over the years of evolutionary thinking scientists have

accumulated an array of evidence from the different fields of

biology.
 Evidence from paleontology (fossil study) -bones, teeth, skin

impressions, hair
 Evidence from body structure/comparative anatomy

 Homologous structures – are structures having similar form,

body position and embryonic development but very different in

functions in different species
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• arm for manipulation in humans, leg for running in cats,

flipper for swimming in whales , wing for flying in bats

 analogous structures –structures that function in very similar

ways. However, morphologically and developmentally

different
• For example, wings of a bird and a mosquito both serve the

same function their anatomies are very different

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 Evidence from comparative embryology

• Early in development, all vertebrate embryos (including you)

have gill slits and tails.

• However, the ‘gill slits’ are not gills in many vertebrates;

• Only in fish and larval amphibians they contribute to the

development of gills.
 Evidence from comparative biochemistry

 DNA, protein and hemoglobin's

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 Unit 7: Biotechnology
 Biotechnology is the use of microorganisms to make things that

people want, often involving industrial production.

 The application of biotechnology is broadly classified as

traditional biotechnology and modern or new biotechnology.

 Traditional biotechnology

 It is the traditional techniques of using living organisms to yield

new products or modify foods or other useful products

 Injera needs yeast, production of alcholic drinks( tej and tella),

Food production using bacteria (Making yoghurt (irgo),

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 New applications of biotechnology

 Modern or new biotechnology involves the manipulation

(modification) of the genetic materials of living organisms to

produce the desired products.
 the most important new areas of biotechnology genetic

engineering (also known as genetic modification).

 Genetic engineering involves changing the genetic material

of an organism.
 Some of the application areas of biotechnology are:

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 Agricultural biotechnology
Engineered genes can be used
 to improve the growth rates of plants and animals,

 to improve the food value of crops,

 to make crop plants that are resistant to drought and

to disease, and
 to produce plants that make their own pesticide

chemicals
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 Medical biotechnology

 Medical Biotechnology is the use of living cells that produce

pharmaceutical and diagnostic products that help treat and prevent

human diseases.
 It is used to develop vaccines and to create new medicines.

 Genetically engineered bacteria produces huge quantities of protein

that makes drugs and hormones used as medicines.

 Genetically modified sheep can make special blood-clotting proteins in

their milk.
 It is applied to manufacture pharmaceuticals like enzymes, antibiotics

and vaccines, and its use for molecular diagnostic

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 Applications of biotechnology in food Industry
 The new biotechnology is often used in food processing

 One of the biggest changes is that enzymes are produced by

genetically engineered bacteria

 Enzymes are used to clarify beer.

 They are used to break down starch and convert the sugars

into glucose syrup

 used to create a completely new food based on fungi, known

as mycoprotein, which means ‘protein from fungus’

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  Applications of biotechnology in energy production

Biogas is a flammable mixture of gases,

formed when bacteria break down plant material, or the

waste products of animals, in anaerobic conditions

It is mainly methane

Ethanol-based fuels

If sugar-rich products from cane and maize are

fermented anaerobically with yeast, the sugars are

broken down incompletely to give ethanol and water
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